I will be gradually building up this TR now that I have found the photos on an external USB drive.

Sometime in early September of 2003, British Airways sent an email to my rarely used hotmail address, and I happened to check it the same day. It was a personally addressed email from the CEO's office.

BA wanted to fly (of course with some BA Miles (now Avios) to be used as payment) myself, and my parents from LHR to IAD (London to Washington DC) or for that matter, Boston, or JFK, but we chose IAD, on what would turn out to be BA1223 on 14th October 2003, and the last ever Concorde Supersonic between capital cities.......

The Concorde was waiting outside the CCR in LHR T4 ready to whisk us across the atlantic:



So after a glass or two of champagne, my parents and I (yes the whole family) were asked to take our larger hand luggage and coats to the Concorde pre-boarding area in the T4 lounge, and then return for a bit more champage.



I do have some 35mm photographs, but they are sadly in storage - so the story and photos of the trip will follow here.

Back in 1988, I was able to fly on G-BOAD from LHR - LUT with a go-around, and sit in the flight deck - since this isn't a TR about that, I should mention that my mother and a certain Captain Hutchinson were responsible for that opportunity. Ever since, I felt that if it was possible to return the gesture to my mother (and father of course (not Capt. Hutchinson)), that I would - so on this day 14th October 2003 (10 years to the day before this post), my mother and father sat in 2A and 2B and myself in 3A of the last Concorde to fly from London to Washington DC.

We departed a little after 16h30 and headed toward the runway - which in all the partying, I cannot remember, but in any case as this was to be my last Concorde flight, and my parents first, that the take-off was far more of an important thing to remember - so we roared down the runway and were in the air in no time close to Mach 1 before very long.

Darting along the M4 (just to the south), as soon as we were clear of land, the acceleration to Mach 2 and climb to 60,000 ft began.

Remembering that this was a party flight for some, a celebration for many, and a reminiscence for a few, the service soon got into swing, along with the photographs of the cabin Mach meter and altitude readings.





I will have to search for the menus (and tickets and boarding passes) but the food and drink on offer can be seen here, but when my mother asked for a Bacardi and Coke, they were a little stunned inspite of Joan Collins advertising both BA and Bacardi.......still we see this as a little amusing rather than a complaint and forthwith one was served.

The food was eventually served where I picked a main of Boeuf Bourgignon with asparagas:



One of the panels in Concorde style visible on one of the cabin walls:



When we eventually came in to DC (and on our final approach into IAD Dulles Airport) we were being flown alongside by some other aircraft just so they could take a look.

Eventually landing:



and finding that as we taxiied to the stand (away from the main terminal), we were given a water fountain spray from the airfield fire trucks:




Finally, with great sadness we had to accept that the flight was over, but there was still time for a photograph of the flight deck:



Just the tip of her nose visible in the right of this one after disembarkation:



and then outside a lot of time to walk around the aircraft and also to take photographs:



The whole trip was an unforgettable experience and it seems fitting (and I promise to add more to this as the photos become available etc.) to post this in a more complete form on the 10th anniversary of this last flight of Concorde between Capital Cities - thank you British and French engineering and engineers, and thank you British Airways!